3-15 Abnormal Liver Tests

Question 1

What are the two aminotransferases?

Answer 1

AST and ALT

Question 2

Which aminotransferase is more specific for liver?

Answer 2

ALT is more specific for liver than AST

Question 3

Where, besides the liver, is AST found?

Answer 3

Heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, brain, RBC/WBC

Question 4

Where is alkaline phosphatase bound in the liver?

Answer 4

The hepatic canalicular membrane

Question 5

Increased levels of alkaline phosphatase are seen with…

Answer 5

Biliary obstruction or intrahepatic cholestasis

Question 6

Where else, besides the liver, is alkaline phosphatase found?

Answer 6

Bone, intestines, kidney, placenta

Question 7

How can you confirm that the alkaline phosphatase is coming from the liver?

Answer 7

Increased GGT (or increased 5’-NT)

Question 8

What is bilirubin a product of?

Answer 8

Heme metabolism

Question 9

What is bilirubin carried by in the blood?

Answer 9

Albumin

Question 10

Where is bilirubin conjugated?

Answer 10

The liver

Question 11

Unconjugated bilirubin is indirect or direct? What about conjugated?

Answer 11

Unconjugated = indirect, conjugated = direct